A new film based on an event at last year’s St Gerard’s Novena in Dundalk is currently seeking funding in order to reach completion.
Novena, which is directed by produced by Anna and Hugh Rodgers, captured the month at last year’s Novena when Fr Michael Cusack of St Joseph’s Redemptorist Church in Dundalk invited two members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community into the church to address the congregation.
Novena documents the speeches made that day by Kay Ferriter and Stephen Vaughan and the aspirations of Fr Cusack for a more inclusive church.
Commenting on the documentary, Anna Rodgers said: “When we heard about this event, we felt that it had to be documented despite not having funding or production company behind us. Sundance award winner Kate McCullough and Eleanor Bowman filmed it for us, and captured the event beautifully. Our talented editor Pat Hodgins cut a version of the film and we showed it as a work in progress, both times winning an award – Best Short Documentary at Kerry Film Festival in 2013 and Spirit of the Festival (Irish shorts, joint winner) at GAZE 2013.
“We’re so close to completing this film and have offers to screen it widely in 2014, but we cannot screen it again without the funding to pay for essential post production and music clearances,” she said.
Anna and her team are seeking funds of €6,500 to complete the film and have already raised €3,525 to date. To read more about it or to contribute towards Novena, click here.
